Arrow: Colton Haynes' Arsenal Will Return as Season 7 Series Regular

Arrow star Colton Haynes will return as Roy "Arsenal" Harper in a series regular role for Season 7.

“We’re very fortunate and excited to welcome back Colton to Arrow," the show's executive producers said in a statement. "While we’ve always enjoyed Colton’s returns to the show, we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him return as a proper series regular and we’re very excited about all the creative opportunities Roy Harper’s return affords us.”

“I could not be happier to return to my role as Roy Harper alongside my Arrow family,” Haynes added.

Haynes debuted as Roy Harper in the first season of Arrow. Over the course of the series, he grew close to Thea Queen, ultimately striking up a romantic relationship with her. His drive to do good led him to work alongside Oliver's Green Arrow as the vigilante Arsenal. At the end of Season 3, he pretended to be the Arrow after Oliver's secret identity was outed to the public and faked his own death in order to escape prison. Unable to live openly as Roy Harper, he left Star City and went on the run.

In Season 4, Haynes returned for a single episode, which found Roy at the mercy of the Calculator, Felicity's fugitive father. He also appeared as a hallucination in the series' 100th episode during the Arrowverse crossover event "Invasion!" in Season 5. Most recently, he returned for a two-episode arc in Season 6, which ended with him riding off into the night with Thea to help her right her father's wrongs.

At this time, it is unclear what will bring Roy back into the fold. However, it likely means that his relationship with Thea -- which was rekindled in Season 6 -- has come to an end, since Thea actor Willa Holland has exited the series.

Starring Stephen Amell as the Emerald Archer, Arrow airs Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT on The CW. The series also stars Emily Bett Rickards, David Ramsey and more.